Residents reported that the coyote killed at least one dog and a few cats during the last two weeks. Since the first report, animal control officials have been setting live traps, hoping to catch the animal.

Gray said coyote sightings are rare, especially in a residential neighborhood.

On Wednesday, the coyote was captured near Colony Park, where the animals were suspected of being killed.

"It was several days of attempted trapping," Gray said. "As soon as they got reports that multiple animals were being killed, we didn't waste any time."

The coyote was euthanized at the Galveston Humane Society. Its body will be tested for rabies in Houston this week, Gray said. He said they do not want to coyotes to begin attacking domestic animals or children it encounters.

"It's easy for wild animals to come in the town and hunt," he said. "Once they do and stay around, they are a nuisance and we have to do something about them."